Shrub rose plant named `Ausmum`

ABSTRACT

A repeat flowering shrub rose of good branching habit having golden yellow and apricot colored old-fashioned shaped flowers and dark foliage.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of roseshrub plant which was originated by me by crossing the variety GrahamThomas, not patented, with the variety Abraham Darby, U.S. Plant Pat.No. 7,215.

The primary objective of this breeding was to produce a new shrub rosevariety having golden yellow and apricot colored old-fashioned shapedflowers, with repeat flowering and disease resistance. The objective wassubstantially achieved, along with other desirable improvements, asevidenced by the following unique combination of characteristics thatare outstanding in the new variety and that distinguish it from itsparents, as well as from all other varieties of which I am aware:

1. The inside of the petals is copper colored and the outside is a palercopper-yellow.

2. Dark foliage.

3. Good branching habit.

Asexual reproduction of this new variety by budding, as performed atAlbrighton, Wolverhampton, England, shows that the foregoing and allother characteristics and distinctions come true to form and areestablished and transmitted through succeeding propagations.

The accompanying illustration shows typical specimens of the vegetativegrowth and flowers of this new variety in different stages ofdevelopment, depicted in color as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustration of this character.

The following is a detailed description of my new rose cultivar withcolor descriptions using terminology in accordance with The RoyalHorticultural Society (London) Colour Chart, except where ordinarydictionary significance of color is indicated. Society (London) ColourChart, except where ordinary dictionary significnace of color isindicated.

Parentage:

Seed parent.--Graham Thomas.

Pollen parent.--Abraham Darby.

Classification:

Botanical.--Rosa hybrida.

Commercial.--Shrub.

FLOWER

Observations made from specimens grown in a garden/greenhouseenvironment at Albrighton, Wolverhampton, England, in July 1993.

Blooming habit: Recurrent.

Bud:

Size.--About 1.5-1.75 inches long when the petals start to unfurl.

Form.--The bud form is long, pointed ovoid.

Color.--When sepals first divide, bud color is Greyed-Purple Group 185A.When half blown, the upper sides of the petals are Orange-Red Group30C/Orange-Red Group 33B; and the lower sides of the petals areYellow-Orange Group 21C.

Sepals.--Color: The major color is Yellow-Green Group 144A/B; the baseis Greyed-Purple Group 185A. Surface texture: Rough. There are threenormally to heavily appendaged sepals. There are two unappendaged sepalswith smooth, slightly hairy edges.

Receptacle.--Color: Yellow-Green 144A/B with Greyed-Purple Group 185Ablush. Shape: Goblet. Size: Medium, about 0.4 inches ×0.3 inches.Surface: Slightly pimply.

Peduncle.--Length: Medium to short (very variable), averaging about 1-3inches. Surface: Prickly. Color: Light green. Strength: Slightlybending, slender.

Bloom:

Size.--Large to medium. Average open size is about 3-4 inches.

Borne.--Singly or several together. If in clusters: 1-5 per stem,irregular shape.

Stems.--Medium, normal. Average length is about 24 inches.

Form.--When first open: Loose to open cupped. Permanence: Form becomeslooser and more open to the end. Petal size increases markedly with ageand outer petals curl back.

Petalage.--Number of petals under normal conditions: 50.

Color.--The upper side of the outer petals is Orange Group 29B, middlepetals are Orange-Red Group 32B and inner petals deepen to Orange-RedGroup 33B. The reverse side of the petals is Yellow-Orange Group 21C.The basal one-quarter of petals is Yellow-Orange Group 14B. The majorcolor on the upper side is Orange-Red Group 32B.

Variegations.--None.

Discoloration.--The general tonality at the end of the first day:Slightly paler. At the end of the third day: Paler, less orange and morepink, tending to Red Group 37A/B.

Fragrance.--Moderate.

Petals:

Texture.--Fairly thick, smooth.

Shape.--Notched or undulating, deltoid, heart-shaped. Outer petalsbroad, almost round; inner petals narrower and ovoid.

Form.--Tips slightly recurved, outer petal edges slightly quilled.

Arrangement.--Informal, with a few large petaloids in the center.

Persistence.--Petals drop off cleanly before drying.

Lastingness.--On the plant: Long, about 5-7 days. As a cut flower: Nottested.

Reproductive parts:

Anthers.--Size: Medium. Quantity: Many. Color: Yellow. Arrangement:Regular around styles, rarely tucked in calyx or party so.

Filaments.--Color: Reddish or deep Orange-Red Group 33A.

Pollen.--Color: Gold yellow.

Styles.--Color: Base is greenish white, top half has streak ofRed-Purple Group 58B.

Stigmas.--Color: Yellow.

Form: Shrub.

Growth: Vigorous, upright, branching. Mature plant is about 4 feet talland 3.5 feet wide.

Foliage:

Number of leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves.--5.

Size.--Large, about 7 inches long ×5.5 inches wide.

Quantity.--Abundant.

Color.--New foliage: Yellow-Green Group 146A and margin is Greyed-RedGroup 183A. Old foliage: Yellow-Green Group 147A.

Leaflets:

Shape.--Oval with a pointed apex.

Texture.--Upper side: Glossy, smooth.

Edge.--Serrated.

Serration.--Single.

Petiole rachis.--Color: Green, slightly reddish.

Petiole underside.--1-3 prickles per internode.

Stipules.--Long to medium, serrated, about 1-2 inches long.

Disease resistance.--Resistant to mildew and blackspot under normalgrowing conditions at Arbrighton, Wolverhampton, England.

Wood:

New wood.--Color: Reddish. Bark: Smooth.

Old wood.--Color; Brown, streaky. Bark: Rough.

Prickles:

Quantity.--On main canes from base: Ordinary. On laterals from maincanes: Ordinary.

Form.--Long to medium with broad base, slightly hooked downward.

Color when young.--Red.

Position.--Evenly distributed around stem.

Small prickles:

Quantity.--On main stalks: None. On laterals: None.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the shrub class,substantially as herein shown and described, characterized particularlyas to novelty by the unique combination of its petals having a coppercolor on the inside and a paler copper-yellow on the outside, darkfoliage and good branching habit.